Two to three stops and more wear for 2013 tires

Pirelli announced at the beginning of last October that all components and design methods would change for 2013. The sole tire supplier for the discipline provides more details on these future changes and its F1 policy during its pre-season press conference. Today, Pirelli is pleased to continue in the discipline and describes this investment as a win-win exchange. This is stated by Marco Tronchetti, the CEO of the Italian company: « The teams are satisfied, and we believe that this partnership with F1 is a success. […] That’s why I am confident about a new agreement for next year […] We are ready to continue this adventure if the conditions are acceptable. The show has been present for the spectators, and we have contributed to making it even more present ».

Indeed, this policy of changing compounds is directly linked to their desire to create more spectacle. The 2013 tire compounds will degrade much more rapidly. Consequently, Pirelli announces two to three pit stops per race as well as even more overtaking opportunities than last year. In addition to increased wear, the Italian company announces enhanced performance for the soft tires. In general, these tires will have a narrower operating window, thus including a more significant strategic dimension than in 2012. Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, comments on this technical direction: « The goal is to continuously set challenges for the drivers and ensure that teams start the season with a crucial variable in tire selection ». Indeed, the teams took some time to fully understand the 2012 tires, with a spread of winners at the start of the season, but they eventually managed to adapt: « This led to a decline in the intensity of competition at the end of the year, sometimes with only one pit stop. This phenomenon disappointed many fans in 2011. […] That’s why the teams asked us to provide more developed tires with something new, » explains Hembery.

These new tires were developed with the same team as last year, which will remain unchanged despite the denied rumors about the inclusion of Kamui Kobayashi. Indeed, Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi remain Pirelli’s test drivers but with a Renault from 2010. On this last point, despite significant developments in car specifications over the last 2 years, Hembery indicates that there are no plans to acquire a more recent car: « We will stick with this car at least until 2014, when the cars will be completely different […] And 2014 will also be much more characterized by digital simulation than track testing ». Working on an old car presents a certain degree of uncertainty regarding the behavior of future cars in 2013, but this lack of change can also be seen as Pirelli’s intention not to spend more before having the certainty of a contract renewal.